Billy Taylor presents and signs Based on the Movie 7pm @ Book Soup more ›

Red Hen Press poets read their work 8pm @ Boston Court Main Stage, Pasadena more ›

Kenneth Turan presents Never Coming to a Theater Near You 7pm @ Studio City Branch Library more ›

Josh Peter discusses Fried Twinkies, Buckle Bunnies & Bull Riders 7pm @ Studio City Branch Library more ›

Leave it to writer Tod Goldberg to put together a wickedly good preview of the LA Times Festival of Books, which has just come out with its panel schedule. His recommendations are good, if oddly humble (apparently you may find him at the LA Lit panel instead of his own); we have to add that it's worth seeking him out, since he's entertaining as hell. The best part, though, is his imagined conversation between Joyce Carol Oates and Michael Silverblatt (pictured). It helps to imagine Tod doing his Michael Silverblatt impression, which is somehow more Silverblatty than Silverblatt himself. All in good fun, of course; anybody who talks about books is cool in our, uh, book. more ›

Jim Ruland is a writer who has had a strong impact on the LA literary scene. He hosts a series of literary readings called "Vermin on the Mount" in Chinatown and supports many writers and lit magazines. Jim also nurtures the talents of students who take his composition classes at Santa Monica Community College. A devout punk rocker, his work has appeared in the late, great punk magazine, "Flipside," and Razorcake magazine. more ›